Posts Tagged ‘When the Sky Falls’

Joe Bendoski studied psychology in college and was fascinated by all the insights it provided into human behavior, only to realize most the information never reach people, and when it did, rarely was it in a form that allowed for practical application. He started writing non-fiction, but soon came to understand how few people read that genre and began the difficult transition into fiction writing. His non-fiction works include; the Chemistry of Attraction and the Language of Emotion.

He worked as the head writer for the television show ‘Saved by Grace.’ After being frustrated with comments like “make this scene cheaper,” “What’s my motivation?”, and “Do we need this scene?” he decided to go in to literature.

His latest book is the thriller/espionage/conspiracy/historical novel, When the Sky Falls.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

No. I think writing is an incredibly complex skill that has to be developed. I also know that some writers pick up the craft just by reading, while other have to study directly. I’m the second kind.

What was your inspiration for When the Sky Falls?

I heard a podcast on the 1938 War of the Worlds scare, and it made me curious. One of the most interesting things to me was the conclusion that it could never happen again. That didn’t make sense to me, that’s not how real science reaches a conclusion, not only that but it happened again only six years later in Chile. Clearly, they got it wrong. I wanted to know what they missed

What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

Mass media persuasion is a big focus of the story, and it’s not subtle.

How long did it take you to complete the novel?

Seven years. A lot of what was just learning how to write fiction, create characters, complicate them, write a setting that supports the emotional tone of the chapter. There was so much, and I’m still learning.

Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.

I have my daily schedule in certain blocks, some for writing, some for marketing, but I shuffle them around based any immediate demands. I used to write more, but now that I’m marketing my books that takes a lot of time.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

Answering the question of how it was all possible. How people have their fundamental beliefs about reality shifted in less than an hour? I spent years collecting pieces that all seemed relevant, but none actually answered the question outright.

What do you love most about being an author?

The first draft. Some days I hate writing it, but most of the time I get lost in the story, and it’s raw creation. It’s both calming and invigorating all at the same moment. I hate it when I’m done and know a lot of work needs to be put in to fix it, but during that first draft my imagination runs wild, and I love it.

Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self-publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?

I went indie with this one. On my first book, almost 8 years ago, I received a $40k advance, and 16% royalties on the back end. The offer I got for this book was $1,000 advance and 7% royalties on the back end. The indie market has cut such a big hole in traditional publishing that it’s not really worth it to pursue that avenue anymore. If you just want to write a single book and get it out there, traditional is a good way to go, but if you want to make a living at writing, indie is the new path.

Where can we find you on the web?

Joseph-bendoski.com is my website. You can also find me on Twitter @Jbendoski or my podcast on writing craft Start Writing. There is a fan page for me as an author, and I also run a Facebook group for my podcast. Since the podcast has started to take off, I have a huge backlog of Twitter messages and what not so it might take while for me to get to people who use that route. My website will connect people my email, and I’m really good and clearing that out each day.

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Foreword Best Book of the Year Winner, 2011 Global eBooks Awards Winner, National Best Books Award Finalist and EPPIE Finalist! Currently required reading at Loyola College, Kent University and Claremont University.